Celtic retained their place at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a dominant win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon. Goals from Callum McGregor and Nicholas Kuhn sealed the victory, preserving Celtic’s unbeaten run in the league and underscoring their position as the team to beat this season.
Brendan Rodgers made two changes to the Celtic lineup ahead of their clash with Kilmarnock, sparking speculation among fans about Cameron Carter-Vickers’ absence. Speaking before the match, Rodgers addressed the US international’s situation, revealing the reason behind Carter-Vickers being left out of the squad entirely.
Celtic chose not to risk Cameron Carter-Vickers on Kilmarnock’s artificial pitch, given his recent injury troubles. Brendan Rodgers explained to Sky Sports that while Carter-Vickers is “ok,” the defender experienced some hamstring fatigue after a series of games following his return.“
He’s ok, clearly not perfect unless he would have been here today,” Rodgers said. “But had three games over a short period of time after being out for a little period. So he had Dundee, Aberdeen and Red Bull Leipzig in close proximity… He just felt a little bit of fatigue in his hamstring.”
Rodgers emphasized that the decision was precautionary, assuring fans that Carter-Vickers would be ready for their next match against Hearts after the break.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ Celtic Injury History
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been a crucial figure at the heart of Celtic’s defense, known for his resilience and reliability on the field. Yet, despite his consistent performances, the US international has had his fair share of injury setbacks. Here’s a rundown of every injury Carter-Vickers has encountered since joining Celtic:
1. October 2022 – Knee InjuryCarter-Vickers missed several key fixtures due to a knee injury that required time on the sidelines. Celtic managed his recovery carefully to avoid any long-term impact.
2. April 2023 – Recurring Knee IssueAs Celtic neared the end of the season, Carter-Vickers’ knee troubles resurfaced, forcing him to miss games in the closing stretch. The injury eventually required surgery, ruling him out of the season’s remainder and impacting his preseason return.
3. October 2023 – Hamstring StrainReturning from his knee surgery, Carter-Vickers faced a hamstring strain that caused further disruption. This injury was managed cautiously by Brendan Rodgers to ensure a full recovery.
4. November 2024 – Hamstring FatigueMost recently, Carter-Vickers experienced hamstring fatigue after a series of demanding fixtures. Although less severe, Brendan Rodgers decided not to risk him on Kilmarnock’s artificial pitch to allow full recovery before the upcoming match against Hearts.Celtic remains optimistic that Carter-Vickers will continue to be a defensive cornerstone, and the club’s medical team is closely monitoring his recovery to keep him fit for the season ahead.
Hopefully, as Brendan Rodgers indicated, this recent setback is indeed precautionary. With careful management, Carter-Vickers should be able to make a swift return to the lineup and continue his vital role in Celtic’s defense.